Chapter 3: Fleeing Death
It took all their strength to push on. The adrenaline from the fight had long worn off and now they struggled to carry their father to the safety of Dreasfjord. The bridge came into sight which gave Xev and Zanir the will to continue even though their injured bodies cried out for rest. They were just upon the bridge when another horrifying scream broke out from behind them. Then another from a different direction followed by more faint ones shortly after. The hair on Xev's neck stood on end and shivers ran up his spine.
Crossing the bridge as quickly as their bodies would allow them they saw a watchman above the portcullis.
"You three down there stop where you are!" called the watchmen. "State your business at these late hours!"
"We have been attacked and our father is severely injured can you please let us in we need help!" pleaded Zanir.
The watchmen noticed the crimson blood gathering at their boots then he disappeared behind the wall and the gate was raised. They quickly advanced through and were met by three guards clad in iron armor holding spears.
"We were attacked not long ago by some creature our father needs healers now!" exclaimed Xev before the guards could question why they were demanding entrance into the city at such late hours drenched in blood.
Two of the guards quickly took hold of Aedren and rushed him off down the street to a healer's house with Zanir following behind. The third guard began to question Xev.
"Who did this to you? What happened boy? demanded the large guard.
"We were" Xev was cut off by multiple shrieks and wailing screams from across the bridge beyond the cities lights.
The guard stiffened at the sound clearly frightened. He then yelled up to the watchmen atop the wall.
"What is out there?" worry and fear in the guard's voice. "Do you see anything Baldren?
"Quickly sir you have to call the soldiers to stand guard! What attacked us in not natural! It seems the one that attacked us is not alone and was scouting for the others of its kind." Explained Xev hurriedly.
Out beyond the bridge was a wall of darkness void of the lights emanating from the city and Xev noticed the darkness stirring with shadows. Whatever the thing was that attacked him, more were amassing before Dreasfjord. The guard noticed it as well and ran off down the street to call the army to defend the city from whatever darkness that was about to be released upon Dreasfjord.
Above the watchmen sounded a low bellowing horn to alert the city of an impending siege. Other tower guards sounded more horns and the city began to stir with soldiers gathering outside of barracks' throughout. Soon enough the soldiers began to rush to the southern gate crowding the streets while civilians peered out of windows above with frightened looks upon their faces.
Xev decided it was best for him not to stay near the gate any longer and rushed off to find where his father and brother were taken for healing. He sidestepped a group of soldiers carrying shields and long spears. The streets were loud now bustling with people's voices and sound of marching soldiers.
Xev noticed the same two soldiers who had taken Zanir and Aedren walking towards him.
"Where have you taken my brother and father for healing? I need to see them!" Xev said to the approaching men.
"They are both safe. Do not worry boy. We took them to the mediciner down the street. It's the last building on the right." said one of the Guards. They both took off towards the southern gate.
Xev ran towards the building dodging people, wagons and horses until he was at the door. He knocked on the door to the medicinery while rocking on his heels nervously. He wasn't sure if his father would have made it this long with his wound.
The door opened and a young woman peered outside looking over Xev.
"Yes sir? Can I help you? We are rather busy at the moment." said the young blond woman.
"My father and younger brother are in there I need to see them please." Xev said
The women hesitated for a moment but then opened the door and let Xev inside. The room was fairly large and beds adorned the walls on either side. Zanir lay in a cot next to his father on the left a healer stood over Aedren. Xev moved quickly to them.
"How is he? Xev said to the healer while looking at his father. His face was a pale blue and he was shivering and twitching.
"We have not been able to wake him. I fear he has lost too much blood and will not be able to continue much longer." said the healer seriously.
Zanir was sitting upright on his cot a fresh bandage around his torso covering his stitched wound watching his father's short breaths. Everyone in the room knew that their father was not going to live through such a wound. Tears started to fill the boys eyes and they felt a mix of emotions, anger, sadness, worry and most of all loneliness. Their father was all the family they knew and he would die leaving the two brothers alone.
Outside in the streets came screams and yelling followed by clashes of metal. Fear rose up in Xev's gut. The city was being invaded by more of those dark creatures. He moved to the front door and stepped out into the streets looking towards the southern gate. It was now crawling with hundreds of dark shadowy figures. They were cutting through the cities defences like nothing. Some leaped over the walls screaming through the air and landing upon soldiers tearing them to shreds. Xev saw the death and carnage another wave of adrenaline surged through his veins and he ran back into the medicinery.
"We cannot stay here any longer Zanir!" Xev said frantically. "The monsters are invading the city and have gotten through the gates killing hundreds of soldiers! They will be through here in minutes!"
The look on the healers face and the younger woman were a mix of confusion and horror. They did not know what was heading towards them except that the city was in danger.
Xev and Zanir both stood by their father silently giving their last words. Xev swore he would avenge his father he wanted to find the ones responsible for this horrific mess and kill them. They both turned to leave through the front door.
"You have to trust me. There is evil heading this way you must flee the city." warned Xev to the healer and his nurse before leaving.
Both Xev and Zanir were repulsed at having to leave their father behind but nothing could have been done. They could not escape the city fast enough while carrying their father's body. They knew he would want them to leave him there and flee to find safety.
"We will give him a proper funeral one day Zanir. But for now we have to get out of the city unseen." said Xev while they both ran through the streets towards the southern gate.
As they approached the large battle that continued to rage on near the gate they noticed that the king and his retinue were amongst the chaos. King Alrin, atop his battle steed, was surrounded by his elite guard as they were fending off the dark creatures. Suddenly a stream of blue fire erupted from the center and was hurled towards a creature exploding on contact a wailing scream followed as it was burned to death.
"Die you wretched demons! Leave this land!" thundered King Alrin cutting down a demon with great strength sending two others flailing backwards.
Another stream of blue flame was sent exploding into three demons setting them aflame. This time Xev noticed the magic was coming from a man standing next to the king dressed in elegant silver robes. The man continued to wreak havoc upon the demons sending shockwaves and concussive bursts of energy into the demon ranks.
Behind Xev and Zanir came another company of soldiers marching towards the battle. The two boys were hemmed in the middle of the advancing soldiers and the king's elite guard leaving no room to bypass. No alley ways were between them and the soldiers meaning they were forced into the thick of battle next to the elite guard. The remaining soldiers around the king and his guard were nearly all slain by now.
They had trained for this type of battle they knew how to fight with the grace and strength of the elite guard. Xev picked up a sword from a dead soldier then he and Zanir rushed in to fight amongst them. Without armor the boys had little chance of escaping uninjured.
A few of the nearby guards thought Xev and Zanir were civilians at arms but quickly recognized them both from the training school.
"Stay close!" one of the guards yelled exchanging nods to the two boys.
Two demons came rushing towards Xev with a crazed look of wanting to spill blood in its silver glowing eyes. Zanir and Xev engaged the two demons blocking their lighting fast slashes and counter attacking. Zanir managed to catch one in the side his sword slicing through the demons black chest plate seemingly doing no harm. It screamed in a manic laugh and lashed out with its blade nearly impaling Zanir before Xev lunged forward slicing the demons weapon from its arm.
Without hesitation Zanir jabbed his sword between the demons eyes releasing a purple energy from the wound and instantly the monster fell to the blood drenched ground. A dark fog was hiding it from full view. The second demon was already sending a flurry of blows at Xev. Xev was struggling to defend himself from its inhuman speed and was cut along his left thigh sending a piercing cold pain up his body. Before the demon could finish him a guard and Zanir charged the demon viciously slicing it to death. He realized the demons could only be killed by attacks to its head seeing as they did not have physical legs or a middle torso. They were mainly spirits although their souls existed in their minds.
A second later a massive thundering roar enveloped the area followed by large gusts of wind. Many of the men froze stunned only to be slashed to death by the demons. Xev looked up in the night sky to see a dark beast in dragon form that seemed to be almost an illusion or a haze because he could see the moon through the beast's body. What was most apparent was the glowing purple object inside the beast and a dark figure of a man sitting upon its back.
Then a stream of silver light was shot through the air followed by a massive inferno of purple flame targeted at the group of soldiers behind the king's elite guard. The company of two hundred men were obliterated instantly. Their bodies disintegrated and others blown into buildings.
The king's magician retaliated sending multiple streams of blue flame at the dark dragon. It dodged a few but one dissipated meters from hitting its target from a ward shielding it. The man atop of the dragon sent another stream of silver light this time targeting the king's mage but it was absorbed by a blue shield that appeared surrounding him.
"Fall back! cried the man in silver robes. He summoned a larger shield enveloping the entire king's elite guard. "I cannot hold this much longer!"
The guard started to make a fighting retreat while the demons chased them and the dragon and rider sent a bombardment of magic on the shield. It broke multiple times after each bombardment only to be recast although the mage was being quickly drained of energy.
They were making their way to the kings hold slowly fighting off the demons advance. Another blast of purple fire from above exploded disintegrating the mages shield killing the remaining handful of elite guards and knocking king Alrin off of his steed. Xev and Zanir were thrown to the ground with their leather clothes charred. The mage had lost consciousness and fell limp to the ground.
King Alrin slowly got to one knee using his sword as balance. He was clad in gold plated armor adorned in his black cape with bear fur behind his shoulder pads. His helm had been blasted from his head during the fall. He heard the dragon roar menacingly and then glide through the smoke filled air landing heavily before him and his slain guard.
Deep radiating laughter came from the man atop the dragon. He slowly undid the leather straps from his sattle and stepped to the ground his armored boots making a thud. He drew his dark purple hand and a half sword while walking to stop before the kneeling king.
"King Alrin." The dark rider said smiling. "I am grateful for your kind gesture but you see I am not your king. Now rise before me or I will remove your head from your neck!"
King Alrin slowly got to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster.
"Excellent. You do know why I am standing before you and taking your city yes? Please explain to me King." The dark rider said mockingly.
"You are here because you a deranged mad bastard! You only seek power and control of this land! You will not prevail Vreaza! I swear on my grave you will die before you succeed!" thundered the king.
"Incorrect. For far too long you have neglected my empire. You have refused to aid in my military endeavours. You have grown old and selfish Alrin. Now I will take what rightfully belongs to me!" yelled the dark rider his eyes began to glow a shade of purple and a black shroud began to form around him.
"You will fall Vraeza!" bellowed King Alrin as he charged towards the dark rider.
Vraeza could have easily slain King Alrin with his dark magic but instead fought him blade on blade.
Vraeza side stepped the king's charge and kicked him with the point of his iron boot in the side sending the king off balance. Furious, the king lashed out with his sword but was parried and then he was slammed in the face instantly by the dark rider's fist. Blood drained from the king's nose and he staggered backwards. They engaged again, the king slashed at the dark rider but he swatted his sword away and spun around slicing through the kings chain mail on his left arm above his grieves. It severed his arm clean through and the king screamed and slashed one last time but Vraeza knocked his sword from his hand effortlessly and kicked the kings leg out snapping it at the knee.
King Alrin's mage began to regain consciousness as did Xev and Zanir. They slowly got to their feet only to see Vraeza about to slay their king.
"Stop you wretched monster!" yelled the mage. He sent a jet of blue flame towards Vraeza. It slammed into his back knocking him aside. He then drew his long thin sword from the silver sheath at his side.
Vraeza turned on the mage and leapt forward casting a dark shield around him. He met mid-flight with the mages blade. The force would have obliterated any normal blade.
Vraeza shoved the mage from him proving his superior strength. They continued exchanging blows and throwing fire and dark energy at each other. Their defences were holding up until the mage overwhelmed Vraeza's shroud and lashed out with lightning fast speed stabbing through the dark riders black breast plate and through his shoulder. The rider hissed in rage and his dragon roared and sent a jet of purple flame towards the mage burning through his remaining ward. Vraeza retreated clutching his wounded shoulder that was spewing out crimson blood and leapt up onto his dragon.
"We will continue this fight mage!" spat the dark rider as his dragon shoved of the cobble stone road and soared away. His wound would take more than magic to mend as it was deep.
Xev and Zanir were still dazed from the blast that broke through the mages shield. They were also shocked at the events that had transpired the past few hours. Their king lay dying and they stumbled over to him. The mage had already knelt by him and was whispering under his breath.
"Will he make it sir?" asked Xev kneeling next to the mage.
"I cannot mend his severed arm and he has lost much blood. It will fester before it heals. The rider's sword is enchanted with a dark magic that slows healing. I'm afraid he will not live. It is best to end his suffering here." said the mage.
"Valon, you must flee the city. It has already fallen. First, take my life. I cannot make it out alive I will only slow you down. Tell the other kingdoms that Vraeza has taken Dreasfjord. We cannot lose you Valon. You have served me well…" the king's voice grew weaker as he struggled to remain conscious from loss of blood.
Valon laid his hand on Alrin's chest and a blue glow appeared. The king's breath stopped and he was dead.
"Quickly, we have to flee the city before the demons catch us. Follow me I know a way to the eastern gate." said Valon as he walked off at a brisk pace.
The two boys followed Valon through dark alley ways sticking to the shadows. They came before an opening to a road that led to the eastern gate but there were 5 demons slaughtering a group of people in the street. The trio was too weak to help them. They left the alley way turning right ducking behind wagons and managed to slip away undetected.
Soon they came before the eastern gate which had been destroyed the ground littered with wooden splinters. They dashed through and out into the fields beyond the city.